Housing Policy Organizer

Housing Action Illinois is a statewide coalition of more than 200 organizations dedicated to protecting and expanding the availability of quality, affordable, accessible homes throughout Illinois. The great majority of our member organizations are nonprofit direct-service providers who provide shelter, affordable housing, and/or housing counseling to low-income individuals and families.

Through our Policy Advocacy Program, we mobilize our members and allies to advocate for policies that help end homelessness, create affordable rental housing, promote sustainable homeownership and affirmatively further fair housing. For this work, we particularly focus on the needs of people with the lowest incomes and others impacted by systemic inequities in our society. Our complementary Public Education & Organizing Program builds awareness and activates change by sharing information and real-life stories with policymakers, nonprofit service providers, and the media.

Successful state level campaigns we have recently worked on include: passing legislation regulating junk fees for renters; delaying the Cook County tax sale to provide more time for property tax sale reform; securing more than $180 million in new state funding to prevent and end homelessness; advocating for the creation of a new property tax incentive for the preservation and creation of affordable rental housing; and advocating for the passage of the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act.

In Cook County, Housing Action was a leader in campaigns to create payment plan options for homeowners with delinquent property taxes, passage of the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance and fair housing protections for people with criminal records through the Just Housing Amendment.

Working with partners and allies around the country, we also actively engage in federal level advocacy. This includes advocacy with members of our Congressional delegation to protect and expand resources in the federal housing budget.

Housing Action also has programs that build the capacity and expand the resources of our member organizations through training and technical assistance and as a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Intermediary and HUD Housing Counseling Training Partner. Housing Action also manages a network of AmeriCorps VISTA members working with member agencies.

Job Title: Housing Policy Organizer

Responsible to: Policy Director

Summary of Primary Job Functions: The Housing Policy Organizer is responsible for implementation and management of portions of Housing Action’s Public Policy Advocacy and Public Education and Organizing Programs, including our advocacy work on local, state and federal spending, as well as our legislative and other policy efforts. An important goal for the Housing Policy Organizer is to lead Housing Action’s work to build the capacity of community-based organizations, particularly our members, to participate in our advocacy campaigns.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Policy Director, assist in the development and implementation of our public policy agenda.
• Help lead attempts to influence public policy at the state, federal, and local level.
• Build relationships with members, allies, and other stakeholders to gain community support for Housing Action’s advocacy efforts and to solicit input to guide our future work.
• Establish and maintain relationships with elected officials.
• Organize, manage, and lead issue-specific working groups and coalitions.
• Work with other staff to plan, coordinate, and implement public education and organizing activities, such as our annual conference and membership recruitment and retention activities.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

• At least three years of experience with a non-profit, community-based organization in one of the following areas: affordable housing or community development; public policy in housing or a related social justice field; and/or community organizing
• Strong mission alignment; knowledge of current public policies and programs related to our organizational mission is a plus
• Strong problem solving skills
• Ability to evaluate effectiveness of projects and initiatives, and provide suggestions for improvement
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Comfort with representing Housing Action externally, speaking/presenting publicly, and facilitating large group discussions
• Strong collaboration and group facilitation skills, including leading and managing networks/coalitions toward agreed upon goals
• Ability to engage organizational members and leverage our statewide coalition to advance organizational mission
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with diverse people and communities
• Ability to shift between independent, self-directed work and team collaboration/projects
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to meet internal and external deadlines
• Strong software and computer skills, ability to learn new programs quickly, especially Mac computers/software
• Ability to work flexible hours; some evening and weekend hours may be required
• Must have valid driver’s license and be willing/able to do significant travel throughout the state. For a highly qualified candidate, we will consider that they not be required to work out of our Chicago office
• Bachelor’s Degree or experience in related field

Housing Action offers a competitive salary ($58,500-$64,350) and benefits package. Benefits currently include 100% of health, dental, and short-term disability insurance premiums for employee paid by Housing Action, 12 vacation days the first year of employment (increases to 18 days thereafter), 5 personal days, 11 holidays, and 12 health leave days.

Additional relevant qualifications, such as significant past work experience, could warrant a higher starting salary.

We also offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with the option to work 2-4 days per week remotely.

Housing Action Illinois is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer Illinois. We believe that personnel diversity is an organizational strength and recognize and value the intersectional identities that staff members bring to our organization.